Air-brake coupling.



A 0.1. ysCKERS.

AIR BRAKE CUPLING. vAPPLICATION menvluNE 2o, 1911. gpl Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

ATTO R N EY 0.1. VICKERS.

AIR BRAKE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILI-:D IuNEzo, I9I1.

1260A@ Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NVENTOR WITNESS ATTO R N EY 0.1. VICKERS.

AIR BRAKE COUFLING.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE 20, I9I7- 1,269 I. @l Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR WITNESS BY 5W@ ATTORNEY A013.11511? J'. VICKI-ERS, OF GASPARILLA, IELORIDA.y

AIR-BRAKE COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

Application led .Tune 20, 1917. Serial N o. 175,875.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, OBEN J. VICKERs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gasparilla, in the county of De Soto and State of Florida, have invented new and useful Improvements in Air-Brake Couplings, of which the following is a specication.

This invention comprehends improvements in air brake couplings, and has for its primary object the provision of an auto- .matic coupling which is positive in operation, and which will cut olf the. air when broken.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air brake coupling for use primarily on freight and vpassenger trains, consisting of two coupling members each adapted for connection with the air line and each pivotally and slidably mounted within a frame.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an automatic coupling of this natura which will couple and uncouple with the coupling and uncoupling of the train, and so do away with the dangerous manual performance of these operations.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an air brake coupling of extremely simple and practical construction, which may be cheaply manufactured, quickly installed, and which will be a general improvement over devices of a similar nature now in use.

YVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, showing the coupling in use.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view.

Fig. 3 is an outside end elevation of one of the air brake coupling members.

Fig. 4; is a horizontal sectional view through a coupling member.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the frame in which the carriage for a coupling member is mounted.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the plates which serve as an abutment for the springs associated with the carriages in which the coupling members are mounted.

F 7 is a perspective view of one of the slide bars which comprises a part of a. carriage for a coupling member.

Referring in detail to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates a pair of cars of any description having the customary car coupling 2, which may be of any type that will not interfere with the proper operation of the air' brake coupling.

The air brake'coupling comprises the coupling members 3 and A: of similar construction, which are mounted-under the cars and which project beyond the ends thereof as shown in the drawings, and as will be hereinafter fully described.

Each of the coupling members comprises a body 5 having at its forward end a head 6 formed on the outer end thereof adjacent to one side with an outwardly extending tongue 7 tapering toward its terminal, as shown. On the side of the head opposite to the tongue and rearwardly thereof is formed a socket or housing 8 for the reception of the tongue 7 on the complementary coupling member. rlhis housing is formed with a {iai-ed outer end so that the tongue may easily slide into the socket even when the cars are not in exact alinement or at the same level.

To automatically lock the tongue 7 within the socket or housing 8, a catch 9 is employed, comprising a pin 10 disposed at right angles to the lateral face of the socket 8 and projecting into the socket through an opening in the wall thereof. This pin is normally held in locking position by an expansive helical spring 11 abutting at one end against a collar 12 and at the other end againstV a bracket 13 attached to the socket 8 and through which the pin slides.

To automatically withdraw the locking pin from its socket and from engagement with a recess 14 in the corresponding tongue 7 l provide a lever 15 pivotally mounted between brackets 16 on a vertical pivot 17. The inner end of the lever is formed to embrace the locking pin 10 and is held in loose connection therewith by a pin 18.

The lever 15 has its outer edge in the form of an ogee curve. T he lever is of such length and so positioned that when the cars 'are coupled it will slidably engage a rod 19 and be forced inwardly so as to withdraw the locking pin 10 from its socket, allowing the tongue to enter the socket. As the cars come into close engagement, the rod 19 is carried opposite the depression in the outer :tace of the lever so that the locking pin 10 Y may become operative. When the cars are uncoupled, the rod 19v'by' engagementv withthe lever 15 will release the locking pin, and from this it is seen that the' coupling is eritirely automatic.

22. Slots23= are formed inthe inner 'facesv of the legs 21 to receive slide bars 242 which provide a carriage for the couplin mein;-

bfer. Each bar is enlarged interI-n'eniate its ends to provide abutments for engagement with. the legs to limi-tithe longitudinalmvementr of the bar', and eachy bar is connected to its coupling member by a horizontal pivot or trunnion 25 affording pivotal motion to the coupling member.

V'To hold the coupling members normally in extended positions helical springs 26 are employed, and each spr-ing is mounted upon a rod 27 attached to a slide bar 2st and movable through a plate 28 which forms; anV

abutment for the spring 26; This method of mounting the coupling member provides for avp'ivotalmovement'` in a vertical plane and a reciprocatory motion.A kEach ofl the couplingl members is connected to the air line 29 and is formed with a b'ore or pas-- sage 3() runningits entire length. outer restrictedv end of the passage is positioned a sliding valve 31 having an enlarged head 32 which seats against thev shoulder 33 when closed; The outer end of the valve 31 is anged, and provided with rubber gaskets 34:- to prevent leakage when inoperation,y

' ,Y When thez coupling is connected,y the flanged ends of the two valves will meet,` and the valves will be forced inwardly against `the tension of their springs to un-V s'eat the heads 32, thereby establishing air connection: through ports 35, which .are then uncovered.

66m; fumpmu mi be obtrainea- :0r

In the- When the coupling is connected, the. pivotal mounting of the coupling members allows-for al difference in height or the two cars.` The springs 26 which force the coupling members outwardly, and the springs 36 which force Vthe valves outwardly, are achecli on one another, and insure tight and vpermanent connection between the two valves when the coupling is operated. f

From the forego'ingdescription taken. in

connection with the accompanying drawings,- it will be apparent that l have previded a very simple, practical and etlicient air brake coupling adaptable for use on cars or' any type;

While l have the preferred form of my invention by way of illustratiomal wish it to be understciod 'that do-'not limit or conrine myselit to the herein.V shown and described faces of said frame on opposite sides of the coupling member being slotted; slide bars mounted within said slots, horizontal pi-;-V otal means coi'meclting saidy coupling member to said' slide bars, and Vresilient means for holding the coupling member normally in extended position.-

2. An air bra-ke coupling member hat@ ing` an air passage extending therethrough, air'rame 'attachableto a can-,horizontal slide bars mounted ywithin said frame, abutments on said slide bars for engagement with the irameto limit the longitudinal movement oit the slide bars, pivotal connections between the slide bars and the coupling member, and resilient means for holdingY the coupling member normally inextended position. In testimony whereofe ,sig-nature.`

v @REN J. VICKERS:

tive cets each, by addressing-th Commissionerof iatenfa,

Washington, D. C. 

